Sec. 3. Infrastructure grants to nonprofit feeding organizations
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The purposes of this section are— to reduce food waste by supporting the distribution of perishable food that would otherwise go to waste or be left unharvested; to provide food and meals to individuals in need during the COVID–19 emergency; to improve the ability of food banks and other nonprofit feeding organizations to process, repack, store, or distribute perishable food in response to the COVID–19 emergency; and to facilitate partnerships with local and regional organizations to store, repackage, prepare, process, or distribute food and meals.
In this section: The term eligible organization means an organization providing free food or meals during the donation period, including— a nonprofit organization, such as a food bank, a school, and an emergency feeding organization; a faith-based organization that distributes food or meals, and any other similar program, as determined by the Secretary; a tribal organization that distributes food or meals; a child or adult care center; and any other similar feeding entity, as determined by the Secretary.
The term Secretary means the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service. The term tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ). Not later than 15 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall reimburse costs incurred during the donation period by an eligible organization for the distribution and temporary storage of perishable commodities, without regard to the source of those commodities.
Under the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reimburse eligible organizations at a rate of $0.10 per pound of perishable food stored and distributed during the donation period. The Secretary shall provide an advance reimbursement to an eligible organization under paragraph
(1)if the Secretary approves a plan submitted by the eligible organization that— estimates the pounds of perishable food expected to be distributed during the subsequent 30 days; and demonstrates the ability of the eligible organization to accomplish that distribution. Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use not more than $500,000,000 to carry out this subsection, of which not more than 3 percent may be used for administrative expenses. Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible organizations to improve, construct, rent, lease, or purchase infrastructure, equipment, and supplies that support the distribution of surplus perishable food or meals prepared with that food and the purposes described in subsection (a). To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), an eligible organization shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the information described in subparagraph (C). The Secretary shall approve or deny an application received under subparagraph (A)— not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of the application; and in the case of an application for a grant amount of less than $80,000 or an application that may be reviewed quickly otherwise, as determined by the Secretary, in accordance with the timeline in a fast-track review process established by the Secretary for such applications. In determining whether to approve or deny an application of an eligible organization under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall consider whether the eligible organization— to the extent practicable, will use local and regional food business and small and medium businesses to carry out activities under the grant; will divert perishable food that would otherwise be wasted or unharvested; will develop innovative partnerships with institutions that have available, underutilized cold storage, food preparation, or other existing resources or facilities; will make investments in infrastructure or equipment that have short- or long-term value, have multiple uses, and would improve preparedness for future surges in donations of perishable foods; and demonstrates an ability to use the grant for the purposes described in paragraph (1). Activities carried out by eligible organizations using grant funds awarded under paragraph
(1)may include the following: Purchasing new or temporary packaging materials and food labels. Converting industrial-sized products to consumer-sized products. Purchasing, renting, or leasing storage or preparation space, cold storage, equipment, or vehicles, trailers, or transportation services. Purchasing test kits, disinfectant, sanitation systems, or hand washing stations. Training relating to— equipment purchased, rented, or leased with the grant funds; and new procedures established by the eligible organization that are supported by the grant funds. Purchasing and decontaminating personal protective equipment. Purchasing equipment and supplies to facilitate food or meal distribution. Any infrastructure, equipment, or supplies purchased by an eligible organization using a grant awarded under paragraph (1)— shall be required to support the purposes of the grant but need not be exclusively used for those purposes; shall not have Federal property tracking and inventory requirements applied beyond the end of the grant term; and shall remain under the ownership of the eligible organization for future use or pandemic or food crisis preparedness. Not later than 10 days after the date on which a grant is awarded under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publicly announce the grant on the website of the Food and Nutrition Service, including a summary of the activities funded by the grant and the projected volume of food or meal distribution supported by the grant. Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use not more than $500,000,000 to carry out this subsection, of which not more than 3 percent may be used for administrative expenses. The Secretary shall conduct outreach to eligible organizations, including tribal organizations, that serve underserved communities or have minimal or no participation in Federal programs to ensure that those organizations are informed of the programs established under this section. An eligible organization may not receive reimbursements, payments, or grants from Federal sources for activities carried out under this section in an amount that exceeds 100 percent of the costs incurred by the eligible organization in carrying out those activities. In addition to the funds used under subsections (c)(4) and (d)(6), of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
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Sec. 3
Infrastructure grants to nonprofit feeding organizations
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